Runners of all ages lined up on Saturday, February 25th, at Coggin Elementary to compete in the first Coggin Joggin 5K and 1.5 mile Walk/Fun Run. With the help of Coggin Elementary staff and students, event coordinators Brenda Hernandez and Amanda Neal put a lot of work into making the PTO fundraiser a success. “Amanda and I being runners, kind of had an idea of what needed to be done to make this happen,” said Hernandez. “Finding the route was a decision we had to be 100% sure about and making sure it was a safe route since we knew we would have a lot of kids running.”
With over 200 registered and 106 runners, Coggin Joggin provided several ways for the students to get involved. “We wanted the kids to have as much participation as they could,” said Hernandez, adding that the event presented an opportunity for the kids to show that they have embraced Rachel’s Challenge, a program that promotes kindness and good deeds towards others. “We had the kids decorate the runners’ bags and write encouraging words to each runner and thank them for supporting our school.”
Medals were awarded to the top three in each age division, and the overall rankings were printed and posted on-site as runners came through the finish line. Jon Permenter of Brownwood came in 1st overall with a time of 20:24, Ronald Tiner came in second at 20:27, and Jay Townsend was third securing a time of 22:49. Additional Coggin Joggin 5K results and places by age group are posted on the Coggin Elementary website (
Jon Permenter strides to the finish line taking first place overall at the Coggin Joggin 5K on Saturday, February 25th.
Coggin Elementary students decorated bags, wrote words of encouragement, and thanked the runners at Coggin Joggin for their support of the school as part of Rachel’s Challenge.